Lindholm Hoeje

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Located in North Jutland overlooking Aalborg is the largest burial ground (and also a settlement) for Vikings in Denmark. The name is derived from Old Norse which means “the small hills (mounds) of Lindholm. The chalk hill is 42 meters above sea level and the site is a wealth of archaeological finds. There are about 700 graves that can be found in Lindholm Hoeje along with numerous evidence that the area has been inhabited as far back as 400 A.D. The graves and the remains of the village in Lindholm Hoeje were first discovered in 1889 but most of the significant finds were done in 1952.

The northern side of the village is said to date back to 700-900 AD and the southern side dates from 100-1150 AD. During the Viking Age, the Lindholm Hoeje was used as a major crossing route from North Jutland to the mainland as well as to other countries such as England, Scotland and Norway. The hill was also used as a burial ground from 500 AD. A majority were found on the top of the hill and by the foot and are believed to have been made for the cremated bodies.

An interesting aspect of the graves was the different shapes and sizes which indicate the gender and status of the person. Oval or round graves were for the women, and the triangular and shaped like a ship were for the men. There were also other artifacts found such as axes, knives, bronze buckles and women’s brooches. To preserve the site and the objects found in it, a museum was built in 1992 where visitors can see and learn more about the Iron Age and Viking era.

 

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